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The most important aspect of the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is the Faculty Mentor/McNair Scholar relationship. Faculty Mentors provide exposure and insight essential for the McNair scholar to understand the skills needed to become successful in the academic world. Their time, energy, expertise and commitment to mentoring scholars are invaluable resources that increase the quality of the McNair experience. For the Scholar, the benefit of participating in the program depends to a large extent on the supportive relationship between the Faculty Mentor and Scholar. The relationship is designed to encourage, motivate and prepare the McNair Scholar for doctoral studies.

As a faculty mentor, you may think mainly of the benefits to the student of an undergraduate research or creative project. You may even worry about the work involved in mentoring a student, or the disappointment if the student fails to live up to expectations. But many benefits accrue to the faculty mentor, as many faculty members have attested. Here are just a few:

Pleasure of passing on your knowledge and skill

Reward of seeing a student’s growth under your guidance

Opportunities for increasing number of grants that require use of undergraduates

Excitement from learning from students and making joint discoveries (this does happen!)

It's easy! McNair scholars with an interest in your area in general, or your work in particular will contact you or you can contact us to express your interest in mentoring and we will make every attempt to introduce you to a good match. You will, of course have the opportunity to discuss expectations to make a final decision about working together. We only ask that you take an interest in your undergraduate student as an individual. Respond positively when students come to you with ideas or requests for guidance. At the same time, calculate how much time and energy you can realistically apply to working with such students. Be realistic about your priorities, including those emphasized by the reward system. Then just do it!

Mentoring students underdeveloped in their research and creative projects entails responsibilities. You will need to:

Set high standards for performance for both the student and yourself

Give positive support, not just negative criticism

Stay in frequent communication with your student, and respond promptly to questions and drafts

Assess your student's ability realistically; offer special opportunities such as conference presentation or co-publishing as appropriate, but don't hold out false hopes

Enjoy the process of working with your student

The mentor/scholar relationship fosters:

Raised self-esteem

Affirmation of potential

Orientation to department

Access to information

Connection to resources

Empowerment

Confidence

Networking in the field

Better comprehension of the profession

advisors, people with career experience willing to share their knowledge;

supporters, people who give emotional and moral encouragement;

tutors, people who give specific feedback on one's performance;

masters, in the sense of employers to whom one is apprenticed;

sponsors, sources of information about and aid in obtaining opportunities;

models, of the kind of person one should be to be an academic setting

Work closely with the scholar, meeting two to three times per month

Complete the student progress report.

Provide 10-15 hours per week of research activities for the scholar

Serve as the instructor, guiding the identification, design, and the completion of appropriate research work. For example: Abstract; introduction; literature review; methodology; results; conclusions and references.

Give constructive and critical review of all of the components of the scholar's research project

Assist the scholar in preparing and being selected for appropriate presentation of the research project

Provide feedback to the McNair Program regarding both the student and the program in general

Attend a culminating day that features student research presentation and an evening awards dinner

Attend the Faculty Mentor Orientation: (DATE) if you are a new mentor

Identify the research project by: (DATE).

Review and sign the components of the student's research paper to meet the due dates:

(DATE) Research Project Identified/Research Action Plan

(DATE) Introduction of Research Paper

(DATE) Literature Review

(DATE) Annotated Bibliography

(DATE) Methodology

(DATE) Results/Conclusions

First Draft of final Paper

Second Draft of final Paper

Third Draft of final Paper

(DATE) Final Research Paper

Three (3) abstracts for publication unless restricted

Most importantly, it is hoped, that the greatest benefit is a deep sense of satisfaction from the relationship. Other benefits include:

Access to McNair students, providing potential graduate pool.

Service to The University of Wisconsin, Madison

Impact the future course of academia by increasing the number of first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students who complete post baccalaureate degrees

McNair faculty mentors are tenure-track faculty who:

possess a terminal degree in the appropriate discipline

have ongoing research or demonstrated research capability of high academic quality

are recommended by the academic department chair or dean

demonstrate interest in working with low-income, first-generation college students, particularly Native American, Hispanic, or African-American

The Ideal Faculty Mentor:

Is supportive of the student's pursuit of graduate/professional education.

Inspires the student researcher to reach new academic heights and goals.

Provides opportunities for the student researcher to develop valuable research skills.

Treats the student as a full-time member of a research team, if he/she has one, complete with responsibilities and privileges.

Keeps the student "on tract." The student is responsible for committing up to 15 hours per week on the research project. The student should be held accountable for his/her time and quality of effort.

Reports to Maya Holtzman, the Program Assistant Director, any needs/concerns regarding either the student or the research process.

Makes arrangements to have a responsible colleague act as a proxy mentor to the student researcher if he or she is unavailable for more than one week.

Provides an open learning environment in which the student feels comfortable in approaching and asking the mentor questions.

Has a healthy belief in the intents of the McNair undergraduate research opportunity program.

Shares information about graduate programs in the research field and encourages the student to pursue graduate studies.